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BACKGROUND

This publication summarises the results of a survey on safety in the home. The survey was conducted on selected households throughout Queensland during October 2001 as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey.

The aim of the survey was to provide data to assist the Queensland Government, in particular Queensland Health, to run targeted awareness campaigns and enable the development of other intervention/prevention strategies and projects.

Information was collected on selected household safety features and potential hazards in the home. Specific attention was given to households where young children or older persons were present. Various safety features such as the presence of smoke detectors and hot water thermostats, prevention strategies such as first aid training, risk factors including pool ownership and playground equipment were investigated. Other demographic data collected includes type of dwelling and home ownership.


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

• Of the estimated 1,409,900 households in Queensland, (643,400 or 45.6%) were located in the Brisbane Major Statistical Region (MSR) and (766,500 or 54.4%) were located in the Balance of Queensland MSR. In general, results were similar across both regions.

• Of all households, just over one quarter (26.2% or 369,200) of households had anti-slip surfaces or strips, including rubber mats, used or fitted in the bath or shower.

• The majority of households (70.2% or 990,200) had internal or external steps or stairs. Of those households, almost one quarter (24.5% or 243,100) had guards or gates at the top and/or bottom of the steps/stairs.

• Nearly seven out of ten households (69.1% or 973,700) had smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed. This represents a significant increase from October 1996 when smoke alarms or smoke detectors were installed in only 38.7% (473,600) of households. In October 2001, of the households with smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed, only 12.9% (125,900) tested them 'more than once a month' with 19.4% (189,200) reporting they never tested their smoke alarms or smoke detectors.

• One fifth of all households (20.6% or 290,800) had a swimming pool or outdoor spa. Swimming pools were in (277,800 or 95.5%) of those households while (13,000 or 4.5%) had outdoor spas.

• There were 271,300 households (19.2%) with playground equipment. The most popular type of playground equipment amongst these households were swings (188,400 or 69.5%) followed by trampolines (132,400 or 48.8%).

• Nearly half of all households (48.6% or 685,800) had an adjustable hot water thermostat. Just over one quarter (27.0% or 381,100) of households reported they did not know whether the hot water system had an adjustable thermostat.

• Just under one third of households (466,000 or 33.1%) had at least one resident who had undertaken first aid training in the last three years, which included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

1 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, Potential safety hazards and features affecting young children(a)
	Brisbane Major Statistical Region			Balance of Queensland Major Statistical Region			Total Queensland
	Young children	No young children	Total	Young children	No young children	Total	Young children	No young children	Total
NUMBER ('000)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower	50.7	117.3	168.1	59.2	141.9	201.1	110.0	259.2	369.2
Internal or external steps or stairs	115.5	350.8	466.4	140.5	383.3	523.8	256.0	734.1	990.2
with guards or gates	46.6	66.6	113.2	50.9	79.0	129.8	97.5	145.6	243.1
Smoke alarm or smoke detector	129.0	337.9	466.8	138.2	368.7	506.9	267.2	706.6	973.7
Frequency of testing
More than once a month	21.0	43.7	64.7	18.2	43.0	61.2	39.2	86.7	125.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly	28.1	71.1	99.2	39.0	72.9	111.9	67.0	144.0	211.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly	12.6	44.5	57.2	14.9	44.4	59.3	27.5	88.9	116.5
6 monthly to less than yearly	14.8	30.1	44.9	13.2	52.5	65.7	28.0	82.6	110.6
Once a year or less	9.7	27.4	37.1	13.2	34.4	47.6	22.9	61.9	84.7
Never, self testing/electric alarm	14.2	38.2	52.4	14.2	37.4	51.6	28.4	75.5	104.0
Never	23.0	71.1	94.2	21.4	73.7	95.1	44.4	144.8	189.2
Don't know	*5.5	11.7	17.2	*4.2	10.4	14.5	9.7	22.1	31.7
Total	129.0	337.9	466.8	138.2	368.7	506.9	267.2	706.6	973.7
Swimming pool or outdoor spa	41.7	93.5	135.2	45.4	110.2	155.6	87.1	203.7	290.8
Playground equipment	66.1	41.2	107.3	88.3	75.6	163.9	154.4	116.9	271.3
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes	87.6	245.8	333.4	103.4	249.0	352.4	191.1	494.8	685.8
No	36.9	110.2	147.1	50.3	145.6	195.9	87.2	255.8	342.9
Don't know	36.3	126.6	162.9	45.9	172.3	218.2	82.2	298.8	381.1
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years	60.5	144.5	205.0	76.5	184.5	261.0	137.0	329.0	466.0
3 years or more	47.2	127.9	175.1	62.8	152.8	215.6	110.0	280.8	390.8
Total	107.7	272.5	380.1	139.3	337.3	476.7	247.0	609.8	856.8
Total Households	160.8	482.5	643.4	199.7	566.8	766.5	360.5	1,049.4	1,409.9
PROPORTION (%)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower	31.5	24.3	26.1	29.7	25.0	26.2	30.5	24.7	26.2
Internal or external steps or stairs	71.8	72.7	72.5	70.4	67.6	68.3	71.0	70.0	70.2
with guards or gates	29.0	13.8	17.6	25.5	13.9	16.9	27.0	13.9	17.2
Smoke alarm or smoke detector	80.2	70.0	72.6	69.2	65.0	66.1	74.1	67.3	69.1
Frequency of testing
More than once a month	13.1	9.1	10.1	9.1	7.6	8.0	10.9	8.3	8.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly	17.5	14.7	15.4	19.5	12.9	14.6	18.6	13.7	15.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly	7.9	9.2	8.9	7.4	7.8	7.7	7.6	8.5	8.3
6 monthly to less than yearly	9.2	6.2	7.0	6.6	9.3	8.6	7.8	7.9	7.8
Once a year or less	6.0	5.7	5.8	6.6	6.1	6.2	6.3	5.9	6.0
Never, self testing/electric alarm	8.8	7.9	8.1	7.1	6.6	6.7	7.9	7.2	7.4
Never	14.3	14.7	14.6	10.7	13.0	12.4	12.3	13.8	13.4
Don't know	*3.4	2.4	2.7	*2.1	1.8	1.9	2.7	2.1	2.3
Total	80.2	70.0	72.6	69.2	65.0	66.1	74.1	67.3	69.1
Swimming pool or outdoor spa	25.9	19.4	21.0	22.7	19.4	20.3	24.2	19.4	20.6
Playground equipment	41.1	8.5	16.7	44.2	13.3	21.4	42.8	11.1	19.2
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes	54.5	50.9	51.8	51.8	43.9	46.0	53.0	47.2	48.6
No	22.9	22.8	22.9	25.2	25.7	25.6	24.2	24.4	24.3
Don't know	22.6	26.2	25.3	23.0	30.4	28.5	22.8	28.5	27.0
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years	37.6	29.9	31.9	38.3	32.6	34.1	38.0	31.4	33.1
3 years or more	29.4	26.5	27.2	31.4	27.0	28.1	30.5	26.8	27.7
Total	66.9	56.5	59.1	69.8	59.5	62.2	68.5	58.1	60.8
Total Households	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

2 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, Potential safety hazards and features affecting older persons(a)
	Brisbane Major Statistical Region			Balance of Queensland Major Statistical Region			Total Queensland
	Older persons	No older persons	Total	Older persons	No older persons	Total	Older persons	No older persons	Total
NUMBER ('000)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower	77.4	90.7	168.1	97.1	104.0	201.1	174.5	194.7	369.2
Internal or external steps or stairs	164.0	302.3	466.4	203.0	320.8	523.8	367.0	623.1	990.2
with guards or gates	42.2	71.1	113.2	47.9	82.0	129.8	90.0	153.1	243.1
Smoke alarm or smoke detector	172.2	294.6	466.8	210.9	295.9	506.9	383.2	590.5	973.7
Frequency of testing
More than once a month	24.8	39.9	64.7	28.1	33.1	61.2	52.9	73.1	125.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly	35.1	64.1	99.2	49.1	62.8	111.9	84.1	126.9	211.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly	24.4	32.8	57.2	25.2	34.1	59.3	49.6	66.9	116.5
6 monthly to less than yearly	18.4	26.5	44.9	25.8	39.9	65.7	44.2	66.4	110.6
Once a year or less	13.7	23.4	37.1	20.8	26.9	47.6	34.5	50.3	84.7
Never, self testing/electric alarm	16.2	36.2	52.4	20.1	31.5	51.6	36.3	67.7	104.0
Never	30.2	64.0	94.2	36.2	58.9	95.1	66.4	122.9	189.2
Don't know	9.5	*7.7	17.2	*5.7	8.8	14.5	15.2	16.5	31.7
Total	172.2	294.6	466.8	210.9	295.9	506.9	383.2	590.5	973.7
Handrails fitted in bathroom or toilet	63.4	n.a.	63.4	74.7	n.a.	74.7	138.1	n.a.	138.1
Floor rugs or mats	157.0	n.a.	157.0	208.1	n.a.	208.1	365.1	n.a.	365.1
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes	117.4	216.0	333.4	140.5	211.9	352.4	257.9	427.9	685.8
No	50.6	96.5	147.1	78.5	117.4	195.9	129.0	213.9	342.9
Don't know	55.8	107.1	162.9	78.8	139.4	218.2	134.6	246.4	381.1
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years	43.8	161.2	205.0	63.6	197.4	261.0	107.4	358.6	466.0
3 years or more	54.4	120.7	175.1	77.8	137.8	215.6	132.3	258.5	390.8
Total	98.2	281.9	380.1	141.4	335.2	476.7	239.7	617.1	856.8
Total Households	223.8	419.5	643.4	297.8	468.7	766.5	521.6	888.3	1,409.9
PROPORTION (%)
Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower	34.6	21.6	26.1	32.6	22.2	26.2	33.5	21.9	26.2
Internal or external steps or stairs	73.3	72.1	72.5	68.2	68.4	68.3	70.4	70.1	70.2
with guards or gates	18.8	16.9	17.6	16.1	17.5	16.9	17.3	17.2	17.2
Smoke alarm or smoke detector	77.0	70.2	72.6	70.8	63.1	66.1	73.5	66.5	69.1
Frequency of testing
More than once a month	11.1	9.5	10.1	9.4	7.1	8.0	10.1	8.2	8.9
Monthly to less than 3 monthly	15.7	15.3	15.4	16.5	13.4	14.6	16.1	14.3	15.0
3 monthly to less than 6 monthly	10.9	7.8	8.9	8.5	7.3	7.7	9.5	7.5	8.3
6 monthly to less than yearly	8.2	6.3	7.0	8.7	8.5	8.6	8.5	7.5	7.8
Once a year or less	6.1	5.6	5.8	7.0	5.7	6.2	6.6	5.7	6.0
Never, self testing/electric alarm	7.2	8.6	8.1	6.8	6.7	6.7	7.0	7.6	7.4
Never	13.5	15.3	14.6	12.2	12.6	12.4	12.7	13.8	13.4
Don't know	4.2	*1.8	2.7	*1.9	1.9	1.9	2.9	1.9	2.3
Total	77.0	70.2	72.6	70.8	63.1	66.1	73.5	66.5	69.1
Handrails fitted in bathroom or toilet	28.3	n.a.	9.9	25.1	n.a.	9.7	26.5	n.a.	9.8
Floor rugs or mats	70.1	n.a.	24.4	69.9	n.a.	27.2	70.0	n.a.	25.9
Adjustable hot water thermostat
Yes	52.5	51.5	51.8	47.2	45.2	46.0	49.5	48.2	48.6
No	22.6	23.0	22.9	26.3	25.1	25.6	24.7	24.1	24.3
Don't know	24.9	25.5	25.3	26.5	29.7	28.5	25.8	27.7	27.0
Resident with first aid training & CPR
During the last 3 years	19.6	38.4	31.9	21.4	42.1	34.1	20.6	40.4	33.1
3 years or more	24.3	28.8	27.2	26.1	29.4	28.1	25.4	29.1	27.7
Total	43.9	67.2	59.1	47.5	71.5	62.2	45.9	69.5	60.8
Total Households	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0